Category Uncategorized

Highlights •PM20D1 is a secreted enzyme that regulates N-acyl amino acids in vivo •N-acyl amino acids are endogenous metabolites that uncouple mitochondria •Increased PM20D1 or N-acyl amino acid administration augments energy expenditure

Findings show potential for obesity treatment. Investigators have identified a natural molecular pathway that enables cells to burn off calories as heat rather than store them as fat. This raises the possibility of a new approach to treating and preventing obesity, diabetes, and other obesity-linked metabolic disorders including cancer.

Prof. Bruce Spiegelman, PhD discovered the mechanism in energy-burning brown and beige fat cells in mice...

The NIST-4 watt balance has measured Planck’s constant to within 34 parts per billion, demonstrating that the high-tech scale is accurate enough to assist with 2018’s planned redefinition of the kilogram. Credit: J. L. Lee/NIST

A high-tech version of an old-fashioned balance scale at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has just brought scientists a critical step closer toward a new and improved definition of the kg. The scale, NIST-4 watt balance, has conducted its first measurement of the Planck’s constant to within 34 parts per billion – demonstrating the scale is accurate enough to assist the international community with the redefinition of the kilogram, an event slated for 2018.

The redefinition-which is not intended to alter the value of the kilogram’s mass, but ...

Hypertension was associated with exposure to some air pollutants commonly associated with the burning/combustion of fossil fuels, dust and dirt, a new study shows. Researchers suggest people – especially those with high blood pressure – limit their time outdoors when pollution levels are high. “In our analysis of 17 previously-published studies we discovered a significant risk of developing high blood pressure due to exposure to air pollution,” said Tao Liu, Ph.D. “People should limit their exposure on days with higher air pollution levels, especially for those with high blood pressure, even very short-term exposure can aggravate their conditions.”

They performed a meta-analysis of available published studies in the world assessing health effects of all air pollution on HT risk...

One modification of Savonius wind turbine is Windside wind turbine. Credit: Image courtesy of University of Vaasa

Finnish invention, a vertical axis Savonius wind turbine can be further improved shows a new study from the Uni of Vaasa. Due to the mechanical modification of the rotor the power coefficient was shown to be increased by around 8% (2% units). The power coefficient is the ratio of power extracted by the rotor: kinetic power in the air flow. According to doctoral thesis of Svetlana Marmutova, University of Vaasa, the variation of the power coefficient under gusty wind conditions depends on the level of gustiness: the higher the gustiness the more stable is power coefficient.

Savonius wind rotor was invented by Finnish marine engineer Sigurd Savonius in early twenties of the last ...